...but this one is awesome, a nice mix of real-world and comic-world events.
Top 50 WTF Moments in Comics
Can’t Wait for Wednesday
4 hours ago
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Teen Titan surprise (Spoilers)
I don't read Teen Titans until well after the books come out. We mainly get it for the thirteen-year-old, and she prefers trades, so we wait. So, since I'm far less patient than she is (and because of content crossover between titles), I generally read internet discussions of the book as they come out.
Therefore I've read quite a bit about Teen Titans this week:
Death comes suddenly...unexpectedly...
Walkin' the Dog.
Okay, that's Hilarious.
Wonderdog Did What?!?
In This Issue...Wendy and Marvin DIE!
I never watched Superfriends as a kid; we lived out in the boonies with a good antenna, but we still got nothing but CBS and Canada on our TV, and since Superfriends was on ABC, it wasn't an option. (Also, apart from the first year I would have been a little old for it. Well, my little brother would have watched it, so I probably would have as well, so never mind that. In any case neither of us did.) This might mean that I lack the nostalgic fondness for Wendy and Marvin that so many folks seem to have, and it might mean that I lack the Wendy-Marvin loathing that so many other folks seem to have. In fact it means both.
The thirteen-year-old knew who modern Wendy and Marvin were in the comic book because, well, she reads the comic book; however, the characters did not particularly interest her. She did not know about classic Wendy and Marvin, and did not know that modern comic-book Wendy and Marvin were based on anything in particular. She is not particularly bothered by the idea of the story.
The nine-year-old doesn't care for the book (I think because it's so different from the animated series, which she liked) so doesn't read it.
So kids on the whole aren't likely to have any particular connections to Wendy and Marvin, or any expectations that a Wendy/Marvin story is likely to be of the cute and funny sort rather than the dark and depressing sort. However, I do kind of see the point about the parents, with regard to the cover of the comic (which does point toward the story being in the cute and funny category). Many parents are of the age where, if they aren't comic readers, they may well have formed their impressions of comic books from what they saw on Superfriends. Wendy and Marvin and Wonder Dog on the cover is just going to confirm that.
Now, they ought to at least flip through the book before buying it for their six-year-old. I would, if I were buying a comic for the nine-year-old. But I will admit that if I were buying a Marvel Adventures or Johnny DC title, I might not look too carefully, because I know those books are kid-oriented. I also know, however, that comics on the whole can't be counted on to be kid-friendly--and I don't know that the non-comic-reading parent knows that. It wouldn't be all that surprising if a parent in a hurry made a purchase based entirely on the cover.
My point? It's the parent's job to be aware of what their kids are reading. It's not the comic company's responsibility. However, it may be in the comic company's interest to ensure that six-year-olds with less cautious parents don't get nasty surprises.
Therefore I've read quite a bit about Teen Titans this week:
Death comes suddenly...unexpectedly...
Walkin' the Dog.
Okay, that's Hilarious.
Wonderdog Did What?!?
In This Issue...Wendy and Marvin DIE!
I never watched Superfriends as a kid; we lived out in the boonies with a good antenna, but we still got nothing but CBS and Canada on our TV, and since Superfriends was on ABC, it wasn't an option. (Also, apart from the first year I would have been a little old for it. Well, my little brother would have watched it, so I probably would have as well, so never mind that. In any case neither of us did.) This might mean that I lack the nostalgic fondness for Wendy and Marvin that so many folks seem to have, and it might mean that I lack the Wendy-Marvin loathing that so many other folks seem to have. In fact it means both.
The thirteen-year-old knew who modern Wendy and Marvin were in the comic book because, well, she reads the comic book; however, the characters did not particularly interest her. She did not know about classic Wendy and Marvin, and did not know that modern comic-book Wendy and Marvin were based on anything in particular. She is not particularly bothered by the idea of the story.
The nine-year-old doesn't care for the book (I think because it's so different from the animated series, which she liked) so doesn't read it.
So kids on the whole aren't likely to have any particular connections to Wendy and Marvin, or any expectations that a Wendy/Marvin story is likely to be of the cute and funny sort rather than the dark and depressing sort. However, I do kind of see the point about the parents, with regard to the cover of the comic (which does point toward the story being in the cute and funny category). Many parents are of the age where, if they aren't comic readers, they may well have formed their impressions of comic books from what they saw on Superfriends. Wendy and Marvin and Wonder Dog on the cover is just going to confirm that.
Now, they ought to at least flip through the book before buying it for their six-year-old. I would, if I were buying a comic for the nine-year-old. But I will admit that if I were buying a Marvel Adventures or Johnny DC title, I might not look too carefully, because I know those books are kid-oriented. I also know, however, that comics on the whole can't be counted on to be kid-friendly--and I don't know that the non-comic-reading parent knows that. It wouldn't be all that surprising if a parent in a hurry made a purchase based entirely on the cover.
My point? It's the parent's job to be aware of what their kids are reading. It's not the comic company's responsibility. However, it may be in the comic company's interest to ensure that six-year-olds with less cautious parents don't get nasty surprises.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Patience.
There's a preview up of the new Secret Six title.
Which I won't be getting until next month, due to the whole getting-comics-once-a-month thing.
Ah, well.
Which I won't be getting until next month, due to the whole getting-comics-once-a-month thing.
Ah, well.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More links worth reading
School starts next week and we are busy, so I suspect you'll see a few more linky posts from me in the near future...
If you haven't seen A Serious Note at Bully's blog, have a look. I shouldn't be so amazed when things like that happen, but somehow I always am.
The Man Who Laughs at the Invincible Super-Blog is an excellent, excellent analysis of the Joker which I enjoyed very much.
If you haven't seen A Serious Note at Bully's blog, have a look. I shouldn't be so amazed when things like that happen, but somehow I always am.
The Man Who Laughs at the Invincible Super-Blog is an excellent, excellent analysis of the Joker which I enjoyed very much.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
That Favorite Blog Post Meme
Ooooh, I've been tagged for a meme! I'm so excited! :)
But geez, my favorite blog post of all time...how am I supposed to narrow it down to one? And it's not just the fact that my memory isn't what it used to be, and it's not just that there are so many good ones, it's that it's so hard to define what might make a post a "favorite."
Some posts, I like because they contain intelligent, incisive commentary. They make me think. Example: Anxiety, the Secret Identity, and the Ten Basic Superhero Plots at A Trout in the Milk.
Some posts, I like because they get me to look at things differently, seeing social and cultural issues within comics. Example:Pardon my Language at Pretty, Fizzy Paradise.
Some posts, I like because they inform me about things I didn't know, bits of comic history and so forth. Example: Stan's vs. Jack's Sue Storm at Digital Eraser.
Some posts, I like because they push my nostalgia button--they remind me about something once dear to me that I hadn't thought about in years. Example: this bit of Teen Titans history at Comics Ate My Brain.
Some posts, I like because they're shamelessly opinionated, which is a beautiful thing. Example: On Harsh Criticism at Written World.
And some posts I like because they're just damn entertaining. Example: The War on Beards at Ye Olde Comick Booke Blogge.
But if I must choose just one, and apparently I must :). I'm going to go with this one: Sidekicks Roasting on an Open Fire at Comic Coverage. Humor and history all in one.
But geez, my favorite blog post of all time...how am I supposed to narrow it down to one? And it's not just the fact that my memory isn't what it used to be, and it's not just that there are so many good ones, it's that it's so hard to define what might make a post a "favorite."
Some posts, I like because they contain intelligent, incisive commentary. They make me think. Example: Anxiety, the Secret Identity, and the Ten Basic Superhero Plots at A Trout in the Milk.
Some posts, I like because they get me to look at things differently, seeing social and cultural issues within comics. Example:Pardon my Language at Pretty, Fizzy Paradise.
Some posts, I like because they inform me about things I didn't know, bits of comic history and so forth. Example: Stan's vs. Jack's Sue Storm at Digital Eraser.
Some posts, I like because they push my nostalgia button--they remind me about something once dear to me that I hadn't thought about in years. Example: this bit of Teen Titans history at Comics Ate My Brain.
Some posts, I like because they're shamelessly opinionated, which is a beautiful thing. Example: On Harsh Criticism at Written World.
And some posts I like because they're just damn entertaining. Example: The War on Beards at Ye Olde Comick Booke Blogge.
But if I must choose just one, and apparently I must :). I'm going to go with this one: Sidekicks Roasting on an Open Fire at Comic Coverage. Humor and history all in one.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Links worth reading
Good discussion of superhero comics as a genre. (at Comic Book Resources)
Golden Age comic standards. (at Newsarama)
Golden Age comic standards. (at Newsarama)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Nostalgia and linkage
This one, I got a kick out of although I'm not a smoker and never have been.
Smokers of the Marvel Universe
It brings back fond memories of reading the old Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four when I was a kid, with Mr. Fantastic being all Fred MacMurray with his pipe...
It's been a long time, but you can still see it in old movies, old comics, old newspaper cartoon--the way smoking style was used as an indicator of certain character traits. Plain old cigarettes were common enough that they didn't really indicate anything in particular, but the less common tobacco products certainly did.
Cigarette in holder - if female, femme fatale or exotic; if male, perhaps a little too cultured (particularly if he's also got on a dressing gown and fez).
Cigar - tough guy, very likely with a rough exterior concealing a good heart.
Pipe - fatherly type, or perhaps a professor, absent-minded or otherwise.
Chewing tobacco - unsavory type, or possibly a hillbilly, although a corncob pipe was probably more likely in the latter case.
I can't really complain about the lack of this in current comics (or media)--there are certainly ways to indicate what Nick Fury or Ben Grimm are like other than sticking a cigar in their mouths--but it's an interesting bit of visual shorthand that's gone by the wayside along with smoking itself, for the most part.
Smokers of the Marvel Universe
It brings back fond memories of reading the old Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four when I was a kid, with Mr. Fantastic being all Fred MacMurray with his pipe...
It's been a long time, but you can still see it in old movies, old comics, old newspaper cartoon--the way smoking style was used as an indicator of certain character traits. Plain old cigarettes were common enough that they didn't really indicate anything in particular, but the less common tobacco products certainly did.
Cigarette in holder - if female, femme fatale or exotic; if male, perhaps a little too cultured (particularly if he's also got on a dressing gown and fez).
Cigar - tough guy, very likely with a rough exterior concealing a good heart.
Pipe - fatherly type, or perhaps a professor, absent-minded or otherwise.
Chewing tobacco - unsavory type, or possibly a hillbilly, although a corncob pipe was probably more likely in the latter case.
I can't really complain about the lack of this in current comics (or media)--there are certainly ways to indicate what Nick Fury or Ben Grimm are like other than sticking a cigar in their mouths--but it's an interesting bit of visual shorthand that's gone by the wayside along with smoking itself, for the most part.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Can't...resist...previews... [Spoilers if you click the link]
There's a new preview of Captain America 38 up at Comic Book Resources. I'm impressed with the very neat and concise summing-up of what I gather was a fairly convoluted episode in Captain America history (also one I happened to miss, so this is useful info for me).
Monday, April 28, 2008
And the search for meaning (or maybe not) goes on.
Still too sick to think or write, but if you go to the DC Universe Message Board you can find a discussion of Countdown as an existentialist text.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Links worth reading
The Parental Trinity discusses Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in terms of the families that raised them.
On Dave Sim, Cerberus, and Genius as a Personal Pardon is an interesting look at the way an artist's character can color the way we perceive him or her.
The JSA Killed My Mom looks at violence in current mainstream superhero titles. (I remember the Comics Code, too. :))
On Dave Sim, Cerberus, and Genius as a Personal Pardon is an interesting look at the way an artist's character can color the way we perceive him or her.
The JSA Killed My Mom looks at violence in current mainstream superhero titles. (I remember the Comics Code, too. :))
Monday, January 21, 2008
Less wondering
When I was a kid, I was (as anyone who reads this blog at all regularly knows) primarily a Marvel fan, but I did--particularly in my pre-teen years--also pick up an occasional DC title.
Now, I was never a big Wonder Woman fan. I had nothing against her, but as far as the DC superheroines went, I much preferred Supergirl. (Actually, I really preferred any of the girls in the Legion of Superheroes, especially the ultimately cool Saturn Girl, but none of them had their very own comic books.) Wonder Woman, in those days, was old, at least as my kid brain saw it. To be fair, most of the DC heroes were old. Superman and Batman were clearly supposed to be about my dad's age (late 30s/early 40s at the time). And Wonder Woman had this odd Joan Crawford thing going with the eyebrows and all. (This was before the seventies-ification of Diana, before the white jumpsuit era.)
By the time Lynda Carter made her run at the role, I was in high school (well, I was by the time it hit CBS, the only network we were able to get) and thus pretty well set in my role models. The show was entertaining, but that was as far as it went.
So I don't really relate to much of the recent blog discussion of the Playboy Wonder Woman thing.
But I was reading this article at Comics Fairplay today, and although Heidi isn't one of the pissed-off, she definitely provides one of the best explanations of why people are upset that I've seen.
Now, I was never a big Wonder Woman fan. I had nothing against her, but as far as the DC superheroines went, I much preferred Supergirl. (Actually, I really preferred any of the girls in the Legion of Superheroes, especially the ultimately cool Saturn Girl, but none of them had their very own comic books.) Wonder Woman, in those days, was old, at least as my kid brain saw it. To be fair, most of the DC heroes were old. Superman and Batman were clearly supposed to be about my dad's age (late 30s/early 40s at the time). And Wonder Woman had this odd Joan Crawford thing going with the eyebrows and all. (This was before the seventies-ification of Diana, before the white jumpsuit era.)
By the time Lynda Carter made her run at the role, I was in high school (well, I was by the time it hit CBS, the only network we were able to get) and thus pretty well set in my role models. The show was entertaining, but that was as far as it went.
So I don't really relate to much of the recent blog discussion of the Playboy Wonder Woman thing.
But I was reading this article at Comics Fairplay today, and although Heidi isn't one of the pissed-off, she definitely provides one of the best explanations of why people are upset that I've seen.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Fury-ous
You should definitely check out the Nick Fury love over at Kalinara's.
Dude is the best character Marvel's got. :) And I say this as a Marvel fan with a great fondness for any number of Marvel characters.
Dude is the best character Marvel's got. :) And I say this as a Marvel fan with a great fondness for any number of Marvel characters.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Again with the links?
20th Century Danny Boy has a nice piece up on the fate of many of the comic creators we older fans grew up with: Ageism and Discrimination in Comic Books, or...Whatever Happened to Frank Springer?
The Absorbascon has Anachronoslides, all about the problems associated with the sliding time scale used to mesh superheroes' pasts with the present.
Super Stupor, by R.K. Milholland (the guy who does Something Positive) has a neat take on the whole Women in Refrigerators thing. SP is one of my favorite web comics anyway, so I find it not at all surprising that he's so on-the-nose on this issue.
Also, not comic-related really, I'm going to try to do the Blog 365 challenge. All that is, is trying to blog every day for all of 2008. I started to try to do this anyway a few months back, mainly because I know how easy it is to get out of the habit, so if I can do that, why not try for a year? We'll see how it goes now that I'm actually telling people I'm making the effort.
The Absorbascon has Anachronoslides, all about the problems associated with the sliding time scale used to mesh superheroes' pasts with the present.
Super Stupor, by R.K. Milholland (the guy who does Something Positive) has a neat take on the whole Women in Refrigerators thing. SP is one of my favorite web comics anyway, so I find it not at all surprising that he's so on-the-nose on this issue.
Also, not comic-related really, I'm going to try to do the Blog 365 challenge. All that is, is trying to blog every day for all of 2008. I started to try to do this anyway a few months back, mainly because I know how easy it is to get out of the habit, so if I can do that, why not try for a year? We'll see how it goes now that I'm actually telling people I'm making the effort.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Holiday fatigue links
Comic Coverage has a great piece up called Sidekicks Roasting on an Open Fire, about the various torture devices utilized by Golden Age villains.
Lots of non-comic-related discussion lately about the Nice Guy and why he isn't; commentary found here and here and here and here. Now, I have been away from dating for 20+ years (the husband and I met in college, and I never looked back) but it is disenheartening to see this. I don't think it's unforgiveable for a guy to be friends with a girl he is attracted to--plenty of good relationships started out as platonic friendships (the husband and me, for one). But I don't think that happens if the platonic friendship wasn't genuine--if the guy doesn't actually like the girl as a person--in the first place. Relationships aren't like math, they rely on factors other than cause and effect--that's the kind of thinking that gets Reed Richards in trouble, you know. (Okay, Reed's not that kind of a dick (just kind of not so good on the human relations thing, but he seems to be emotionally honest), but even the Illuminati never pulled that sort of passive-agressive crap. You know why? Because it's too evil.)
Comics Should Be Good has a piece up all about Fred Hembeck. When I was a teen, I loved Fred Hembeck, got anything I could find that he'd done. There's really never been anyone else who's been able to do his brand of good-natured comic-book humor, and I kind of miss it.
Lots of non-comic-related discussion lately about the Nice Guy and why he isn't; commentary found here and here and here and here. Now, I have been away from dating for 20+ years (the husband and I met in college, and I never looked back) but it is disenheartening to see this. I don't think it's unforgiveable for a guy to be friends with a girl he is attracted to--plenty of good relationships started out as platonic friendships (the husband and me, for one). But I don't think that happens if the platonic friendship wasn't genuine--if the guy doesn't actually like the girl as a person--in the first place. Relationships aren't like math, they rely on factors other than cause and effect--that's the kind of thinking that gets Reed Richards in trouble, you know. (Okay, Reed's not that kind of a dick (just kind of not so good on the human relations thing, but he seems to be emotionally honest), but even the Illuminati never pulled that sort of passive-agressive crap. You know why? Because it's too evil.)
Comics Should Be Good has a piece up all about Fred Hembeck. When I was a teen, I loved Fred Hembeck, got anything I could find that he'd done. There's really never been anyone else who's been able to do his brand of good-natured comic-book humor, and I kind of miss it.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
This is a hoot!
This commentary on the art in the current JLA title at Everyday Is Like Wednesday is just about the funniest thing I've read all week. Loved it. :)
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
A few recent links
This article at Dave's Long Box about the 1970s Tony Stark is one of the funniest things I've read all week. Seriously, I was laughing out loud, and the internet almost never makes me do that. Because this is also my absolute all-time favorite Iron Man era, and one that very much formed my understanding of the character. I guess that explains a lot. :)
Snap Judgments wants to know where you read your comics. Personally, these days I read mine in the recliner with the nice lamp. :)
I Draw Comics discusses Stan's Vs. Jack's Sue Storm in some detail--an interesting piece which will inspire me to get out my old comics and look for this sort of narrative discrepancy.
Snap Judgments wants to know where you read your comics. Personally, these days I read mine in the recliner with the nice lamp. :)
I Draw Comics discusses Stan's Vs. Jack's Sue Storm in some detail--an interesting piece which will inspire me to get out my old comics and look for this sort of narrative discrepancy.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
LInkage
I have spent the day making pies, so here are some links.
Interesting stuff on reading comics online:
Comics: Print Versus Online
Comics: Print Versus Online, Part 2
Interesting stuff on reading comics online:
Comics: Print Versus Online
Comics: Print Versus Online, Part 2
Monday, October 15, 2007
Lazy link-blogging
Here are a few links to posts about the new Captain America costume.
In Your Father's Shadow, at Snap Judgments.
Man of Steel, at Super Underwear Perverts.
It's Been A Bad Year For Cap, at 2 Guys Buying Comics.
I'm kind of holding off on having a real opinion on this until I know more about what's going on with the new outfit. Who's in the suit? Why are they in the suit? Who are they working for (if anyone)? It's not a bad-looking costume, but it's not Captain America, which is probably the point.
In Your Father's Shadow, at Snap Judgments.
Man of Steel, at Super Underwear Perverts.
It's Been A Bad Year For Cap, at 2 Guys Buying Comics.
I'm kind of holding off on having a real opinion on this until I know more about what's going on with the new outfit. Who's in the suit? Why are they in the suit? Who are they working for (if anyone)? It's not a bad-looking costume, but it's not Captain America, which is probably the point.
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